Electrically-conductive elastomeric connector

An electrically-conductive, elastomeric connector for electrically connecting a circuit path of an electrical circuit disposed upon a substrate having an electrically-conductive edge portion which forms a portion of the electrical circuit with a shield which covers at least a portion of the substrate, said connector comprising:

• a tubular-shaped body elongated along a longitudinal axis thereof and defined by an outer-circumference, said tubular-shaped body capable of elastic deformation responsive to compressive forces exerted thereagainst by the shield when positioned against a seating surface formed of a circumference portion of a first side surface of the tubular-shaped body, thereby to connect electrically the shield and the tubular-shaped body along said first side surface;
• and
• a pair of symmetrically-positioned claw arms formed integral with the tubular-shaped body, each claw arm of said pair of claw arms having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an inwardly-inclined inner surface extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein a first claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface, and a second claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface corresponding to, but in a direction reverse of, the angular distance beyond the seating surface at which the proximal end portion of the first claw arm is positioned, the pair of claw arms for affixing the tubular-shaped body in releasable engagement with the electrically-conductive edge portion of the substrate, such that, when positioned in the releasable engagement at the edge surface of the substrate, the inwardly-inclined inner surfaces of the first and second claw arms respectively, abut against the electrically-conductive edge portion of the substrate to connect electrically the circuit path and the inwardly-inclined surfaces.

An electrically-conductive, elastomeric connector for electrically connecting a circuit path of an electrical circuit disposed upon a substrate with an electrically-conductive rib member, said connector comprising:

• tubular-shaped body elongated along a longitudinal axis thereof and defined by an outer circumference, said tubular-shaped body capable of elastic deformation responsive to compressive forces exerted thereagainst by the substrate when the substrate is positioned against a seating surface formed of a circumferential portion of a first side surface of the tubular-shaped body such that the circuit path of the electrical circuit disposed upon the substrate abuts against the tubular-shaped body, thereby to connect electrically the circuit and the tubular-shaped body along the seating surface thereof;
• and
• a pair of symmetrically-positioned claw arms formed integral with the tubular-shaped body, each claw arm of said pair of claw arms having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an inwardly-inclined inner surface extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein a first claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface, and a second claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface corresponding to, but in a direction reverse of, the angular distance beyond the seating surface at which the proximal end portion of the first claw arm is positioned, the pair of claw arms for affixing the tubular-shaped body in releasable engagement at an edge surface of the electrically-conductive rib member, thereby to connect electrically the electrically-conductive rib member and the inwardly-inclined inner surfaces of the first and second claw arms when said first and second claw arms are positioned in the releasable engagement at the edge surface of the electrically-conductive rib member.

In a radio transceiver having at least one circuit board housed within a housing, the least one circuit board having an electrical circuit, including a circuit path, disposed thereupon, and the housing having at least a portion of an inner surface thereof comprised of an electrically-conductive material, the combination with the at least one electrical circuit board of an elastomeric connector, said elastomeric connector comprising:

• a tubular-shaped body elongated along a longitudinal axis thereof and defined by an outer circumference, said tubular-shaped body capable of elastic deformation responsive to compressive forces exerted thereagainst by the housing when the portion of the inner surface of the housing is positioned against a seating surface formed of a circumferential portion of a first side surface of the tubular-shaped body, thereby to connect electrically the housing and the tubular-shaped body along said seating surface;
• and
• a pair of symmetrically-positioned claw arms formed integral with the tubular-shaped body, each claw arm of said pair of claw arms having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an inwardly-inclined inner surface extending between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein a first claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface, and a second claw arm of the pair of claw arms is affixed to the tubular-shaped body to extend therebeyond in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped body at a location upon the circumference of the tubular-shaped body spaced an angular distance beyond the seating surface corresponding, to but in a direction reverse of, the angular distance beyond the seating surface at which the proximal end portion of the first claw arm is positioned, the pair of claw arms for affixing the tubular-shaped body in releasable engagement at an edge surface of the circuit board, such that, when positioned in the releasable engagement at the edge surface of the circuit board, a surface of said inwardly-inclined inner surfaces of the first and second claw arms abut against the circuit path of the electrical circuit disposed upon the circuit board to connect electrically the circuit path and the first and second claw arms.